Been wanting to write this poem (or a version of it) ever since hearing the term. Thankfully, once I started, it was surprisingly easy. Images taken from a range of astronauts who have spoken on the subject. It’s not the poem I thought I was going to write so I might have another crack at it one day.
*****
the overview effect
when looked at
with an astronaut’s eye
the earth is not so very big
from a mere 250 miles up
exactly the distance
between Athens to Istanbul
the sky that once went on forever
is actually as thin as
a piece of paper
nature is everything
clouds, mountains, forests
deserts, oceans, so much ocean
rivers like necklaces of pearls
& she glows day, night, sunrise,
sunset, glowing in every colour
not all of man’s might can be seen
but too much can — erosion, degradation,
wounds, sprawling cities, oil slicks, scars
she disregards borders
for the foolish political fictions
she renders conflict ridiculous
not that the blue marble is big
she’s frighteningly mind-bogglingly
small so so so very small against
the ongoing vast silent emptiness of space
gareth roi poet boi 